Asia Family Holidays

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When you’re young, Asia is not so much larger than life – it’s like a whole new world.

Asia is a dazzling hotspot of experiences for young travellers. Roadside hotplates fill the air with unknown spice, centuries-old monasteries overlook spectacular mountains, and caves lie in wait beneath swathes of jagged limestone. One minute you’re rafting down frothing streams, stalking tigers in the wild and zip-lining through jungle so green it looks like a cartoon; the next you’re riding the rails with monks, robot-dancing in technicolour super-malls and slurping broth with locals in their homes. For the young ones, it’s pure discovery, and for the seasoned travellers among us, its delightful contradictions never fail to astound.

10 Days From1355

Why choose Intrepid

Just for families

The clue’s in the title. These trips are for families only (including any aunts, uncles or cousins who’d like to come along, of course). As long as you’re travelling with a child under the age of 18, you’re a family in our eyes. Plus, unlike other travel companies, children aged 17 years and younger receive a 10% discount off the price of their trip.

Travel with other families

Travelling the Intrepid way is a bit like travelling with a group of friends. These trips are made up of 3–5 like-minded families, and the kids tend to hit it off straight away, allowing you to enjoy some well-earned R&R. We often find the whole family ends up making friendships with people from all over the world, staying in touch long after the adventure ends.

Small group sizes

Intrepid’s family group sizes are small enough to avoid the crowds and reach some out-of-the-way places, but big enough for a good social mix. Our average group size of 10 allows us to hop aboard local boats, buses or trains, eat at friendly, family-run restaurants and kick back in traditional accommodation and homestays.

Action packed

We know the biggest challenge on a family trip is keeping the kids entertained. So we’ve planned in advance. Nearly all of our hotels feature pools, and each day has a great mix of action-packed adventure and flexible free time. Your local leader can also suggest activities based on your kid’s hobbies or school curriculum.

Safety first

Our leaders are specially trained to run family adventures, so you’re well taken care of. You can also rest easy knowing we conduct safety assessments on all our activities to meet local standards as well as our own comprehensive safety policy.

Responsible travel

The world’s an amazing place and we want to do our bit to keep it that way. That’s why we choose to travel responsibly, giving back to the communities we visit and helping to create a sustainable world for our children. For us, it’s also about educating the next generation of responsible travellers.

Highlights of Asia

With vast swathes of desert dotted in all the colours of the rainbow, India’s sprawling northwestern state showcases India at its most epic. Great forts and marble palaces provoke endless wonder as to its opulent roots, while tiger-filled Ranthambhore National Park renders The Jungle Book all too real.

Coconuts, tropical fruits, flowers, floating markets… the spoils of Vietnam’s great ‘rice bowl’ are many, and its tranquil waterways and swamplands will enchant visitors of any age. Head to Ben Tre to visit to the local markets, and don’t leave without a taste of keo dua, the signature coconut candy.

Boasting a high concentration of wildlife, including crocodiles, macaques and cheeky proboscis monkeys, the Kinabatangan offers unforgettable riverboat safaris. After dark it’s a whole different story, as tarsiers and civets come out to play. And in the morning? Wake up to the sound of a Bornean gibbon.

Sometimes you have to appreciate the finer things in life, and it doesn’t get much finer than sipping a cup of homemade chai on a Himalayan mountaintop. Whether you’re a Sunday hiker in your teens or an experienced mountain trekker, Nepal’s snow-dusted Annapurna mountains never fail to amaze.

Fun and games in Asia

One of Thailand’s best and most ethical elephant reserves, Elephant Nature Park just outside Chiang Mai initiates local environmental conservation and helps cats, dogs and buffaloes return to good health too. Watching an elephant bathe is sure to be a highlight of a northern Thailand trip for families of wildlife lovers.

China’s a fast-paced place these days, but not everywhere. Surrounded by snaking rivers and limestone mountains, Yangshuo is the perfect place to stop and meditate on the present moment. Start the day by getting your kung-fu on, or finding inner balance with some tai chi taught by a local expert.

Visit the Dutch Fort in Galle, on the southern coast of Sri Lanka, to fashion your own kite and give it a fly with the locals at sunset. If the colours of the kites don’t get you excited, the kaleidoscopic hues of the dusk and 16th century seaside fort surely will.

Where we stay

We always pick accommodation that gives a real feel of the country you’re in. Think junk boats in Halong Bay, family homes in Thailand, jungle eco-camps in Borneo, houseboats in southern India and old havelis in the desert towns of Rajasthan. In Vietnam, Thailand, India and China we’ll have a night or two on an overnight sleeper train ­– always a great adventure for the kids.

Venture to the small village of Ban Hua Tung in rural northern Thailand for a homestay. The community invites you and your family into their quarters for the night for a truly unique experience, complete with a home-cooked meal and a traditional Thai dance performance.

Sleeping aboard a traditional junk is one of the essential experiences to have in Vietnam. Slip into relax mode as the superb karst scenery of Ha Long Bay streams by and the stars twinkle overhead. Sailing junks have twin-share cabins, air-conditioning, private facilities and a bar.